A Marvellous Mustelid - the Polecat!

Join us as Dr Dan Forman tells all about this misunderstood predator now making a comeback after being persecuted to near-extinction. Dan, who was Associate Professor in Biosciences at Swansea University for many years, will be telling us about the biology, ecology and conservation of this wonderful animal. In Victorian Britain, polecats were treated as vermin and by 1900 they were persecuted to near-extinction. Since then they have been quietly making a comeback - particularly in Wales and the borders but there are precious few clues as to numbers. Living secretly in dense woodland, valleys and marshes taking a varied diet including rabbits and rats, polecats are key features of a biodiverse landscape. Dan will be talking about polecat distribution in our local area and the diseases which affect these rarely-seen mammals, which he describes as “largely overlooked, misunderstood and forgotten predators.” The polecat provides a useful case study example of the challenges of conserving small carnivores in our modern landscape. We ask for a donation of minimum £2 per adult towards our Trust group costs. Children are welcome, accompanied by adults. We’ll be serving tea, coffee and cold drinks with biscuits from 7.15 to 7.30pm when the talk starts. The hall is fully accessible with parking close by, accessible toilets and wheelchair access to the hall. No dogs except assistance dogs. There is free parking in the church car park. If full, there is free kerbside parking in nearby residential roads. Polecat images © Dan Forman